Revenue at telecoms company Eircom fell in the first quarter of its fiscal year, declining 3 per cent year-on-year to €313 million.

Operating costs were €199 million for the quarter to the end of September, down €3 million from the same quarter last year.

Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) declined by 6 per cent or €7 million to €114 million.

Eircom chief executive Richard Moat said the rate of revenue decline has slowed significantly, helped by two consecutive quarters of mobile revenue growth.

“Our bottom line performance remains in line with expectations, following a decision to make commercial investments this quarter that will deliver long term growth.”

He said the company’s next generation fibre network passed the one million premises milestone during the quarter, and is course to deliver a fibre footprint of 1,600,000 premises by June 2016.

Eircom’s retail customer base, comprising fixed and mobile customers, stood at 1,896,000 at the end of September and includes 1,065,000 mobile customers.

Retail losses of 13,000 for the quarter ended 30 September 2014 were 8,000 less compared to the prior year quarter.

The total broadband customer base stood at 731,000 at September-end, an increase of 13,000 in the quarter,

In the mobile segment, the company’s customer base returned to growth, increasing by 8,000 from the same quarter last year, and by 10,000 compared to the previous quarter, to reach a total base of 1,065,000.